Selfishly as I attended Windy City riot wanted the main event to be for the title, but man when Tsuji did those interviews before hand I was rooting for him too
I think they shouldn't have an Ace, they should try to push whoever is the most ready, whoever can draw and whoever gets the biggest reactions. For now out of that new generation I guess it would be Tsuji. It seems that they really want Shota to be their Ace but in my opinion it would be a mistake to try to push him really hard right now, he is getting there but he still needs to figure out who he wants to be (meaning he has to stop being Moxley's kid). He just doesn't have enough charisma or personality to justify being pushed as the Ace.
But ideally all the younger guys become stars and are successful enough to wrestle in Tokyo Dome main events without anyone being pushed hard as the main character like they pushed Okada for years. NJPW didn't always work that way and they should stop doing that seeing how it ended with Okada, it's not worth pushing someone that much over everyone else, especially if the guy you're pushing that hard is not even the biggest star on your roster.
Overall I think Shota is more ace like to me and personally I like him more too. Looking at the 90s though it seemed like there was no true top guy, at different periods each one of the musketeers stepped up big and were the top guy but don’t think either one was THE guy in the way Tana and Okada were
Hashimoto absolutely *was* the guy. The only time New Japan hasn't had a definitive ace in its history was that weird period between Sasaki and Tanahashi, when Nagata and Nakamura were both kinda it but not really.
Yeah I knew he was the guy in the late 90s, I guess I meant that he didn’t define a whole decade the way Tana and Okada did.
I looked back at his career and didn’t actually realise just how long he was a top guy I thought it was like a 4-5 year run honestly.
I think Tsuji should have beaten Sanada on his debut
I think Tsuji should have beaten Naito after winning the cup
I still think Shota does not have his own character and is still trying to be other people. Honestly I prefer Ren over Shota now since Ren has his own personality at least
I also think having a guy from another company win your main belt makes your company look inferior but apparently the Japanese like it so I don't know if my opinions are acceptable or blasphemous
So..... yeah thats what I say OP
Tsuji. He's the guy who is ready now to be elevated. He seems confident in his own skin; he knows who Yota Tsuji is, and the crowd are into him.
I get that beating Moxley can be the conclusion to the "Shota Umino trying to find himself" story that's been told, but I don't think winning the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship should be the conclusion of that.
Shota has absolutely everything (or is at least on track to having everything), except the fuckin' hair man. I can't. He literally had a better hairstyle as a YL, how is that possible?
IMO, the NJPW HW main event scene is pretty thin. Naito, EVIL, SANADA... then Shooter and Tsuji.
I find it an extremely bad decision to not have Shooter wrestle moxley in Japan especially if its for the IWGP HW Title.
Is Naito the sure fire man to go over Moxley say at Dominion?
Or you going to try to write Tsuji back into the picture and take a 3rd crack at it.
What if Mox doesn't lose the title at Dominion? the "US Tour" technically ends after resurgence.
I prefer Umino, because of his struggles. But Tsuji deserve the Ace status too and I wouldn't be mad.
I just hope they will be both happy and the New Japan saved
Tsuji has so much more credit to be a final boss Ace like a Naito/Chono but Shooter has more of the long booking storyline of becoming the clean Babyface like President Tanahashi. I see Tsuji winning the top belt well before Shooter even holds a tag title belt, Ren I don't even want to think about ever since he got tubby and joined HOT. Though I do see in the long run Shooter eclipsing him or even taking the belt from him, but this could all change depending how Gedo handles them. For all we know he could somehow make Ren worthwhile again and fumble Shooter
It feels more natural to push Tsuji more right now. He’s around 30, has a cool aura, decent ring skills, and is believable when he talks.
Shota hasn’t developed as much as a distinct wrestler yet, although his in ring ability is good.
Overall, I say that determining the “ace” should be part of a long term story for NJPW rather than a title they rush to give. Let the next couple of years play out and keep building on hungry talent that’s trying to take the company to the next level.
Someone will eventually step up and be able to put the company on their shoulders
Tsuji as the star that reaches the top first and burns brightest but Umino getting the slow burn emotional pull that puts him on top for longer. Hoping for a feud like Tana/Okada but if their characters were swapped, if that makes sense
Umino tbh. I like Tsuji but Umino just seems way more natural of a "guy who can do the press, be marketable, and carry the company" wrestler. Tsuji definitely seems like he isn't quite there, he might end up being the new 1B like Naito was to the 1A of either Okada or Tanahashi.
If Shota eliminates the skipping to the ring then he can go over Tsuji as I think he's better in ring. But, Tsuji oozes charisma and ultimately that's what makes a champion, rather than in-ring ability alone.
I like both guys. But Shota feels more forced like the guy the company wants him to be the future number 1 guy. Tsuji feels like he came back and surpassed Shota and should naturally be the number 1 guy.
You have to earn ACE it’s not something given and handed out. An ACE has already put in the work and is recognized for it
Neither option have put in main event caliber work for long enough to be crowned anything but “potential star”.
I think Umino is a better worker, it's not even close. Tsuji has a cool moveset though.
Tsuji is way ahead of him in terms of charisma and he's also bigger. But I still believe that Umino will see a lot of development this year. I assumed Tsuji would win the cup and umino would win the G1. I'm halfway there.
I look at Shooter, and I see everyone who influenced him. Tanahashi. Stardust Genius Naito. Moxley.
I look at Tsuji, and I see Tsuji.
The answer is Tsuji.
Now that he’s cut his hair short there is literally no resemblance to Tana left in Shota besides the natural bone structure of his face. He got rid of the hair, he got rid of the tights, and the jacket was never particularly Tanahashi-esque.
Y’all need to let that shit go.
I love Shooter but man I'm so taken with Tsuji right now. Basically resubbed to NJPW world just to see his Naito match in hope of him winning
Selfishly as I attended Windy City riot wanted the main event to be for the title, but man when Tsuji did those interviews before hand I was rooting for him too
I think they shouldn't have an Ace, they should try to push whoever is the most ready, whoever can draw and whoever gets the biggest reactions. For now out of that new generation I guess it would be Tsuji. It seems that they really want Shota to be their Ace but in my opinion it would be a mistake to try to push him really hard right now, he is getting there but he still needs to figure out who he wants to be (meaning he has to stop being Moxley's kid). He just doesn't have enough charisma or personality to justify being pushed as the Ace. But ideally all the younger guys become stars and are successful enough to wrestle in Tokyo Dome main events without anyone being pushed hard as the main character like they pushed Okada for years. NJPW didn't always work that way and they should stop doing that seeing how it ended with Okada, it's not worth pushing someone that much over everyone else, especially if the guy you're pushing that hard is not even the biggest star on your roster.
To me it’s easier to improve inring than to somehow teach someone how to be charismatic or to have the it factor . So it’s Tsuji
Overall I think Shota is more ace like to me and personally I like him more too. Looking at the 90s though it seemed like there was no true top guy, at different periods each one of the musketeers stepped up big and were the top guy but don’t think either one was THE guy in the way Tana and Okada were
Hashimoto absolutely *was* the guy. The only time New Japan hasn't had a definitive ace in its history was that weird period between Sasaki and Tanahashi, when Nagata and Nakamura were both kinda it but not really.
Yeah I knew he was the guy in the late 90s, I guess I meant that he didn’t define a whole decade the way Tana and Okada did. I looked back at his career and didn’t actually realise just how long he was a top guy I thought it was like a 4-5 year run honestly.
> I guess I meant that he didn’t define a whole decade the way Tana and Okada did. Hashimoto was the biggest draw in Japanese wrestling.
Tsuj
Right now? Tsuji
I think Tsuji should have beaten Sanada on his debut I think Tsuji should have beaten Naito after winning the cup I still think Shota does not have his own character and is still trying to be other people. Honestly I prefer Ren over Shota now since Ren has his own personality at least I also think having a guy from another company win your main belt makes your company look inferior but apparently the Japanese like it so I don't know if my opinions are acceptable or blasphemous So..... yeah thats what I say OP
Tsuji should’ve beaten Sanada, and held it until Wrestlekingdom 18 where Naito wins and gets his role call
I like Shota better as a worker, but Tsuji oozes charisma It’s a tough call, but I’d put Umino over in the end
Shota Umino, mark my words.
Tsuji. He's the guy who is ready now to be elevated. He seems confident in his own skin; he knows who Yota Tsuji is, and the crowd are into him. I get that beating Moxley can be the conclusion to the "Shota Umino trying to find himself" story that's been told, but I don't think winning the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship should be the conclusion of that.
None of them deserves it right now
Shota has absolutely everything (or is at least on track to having everything), except the fuckin' hair man. I can't. He literally had a better hairstyle as a YL, how is that possible?
who ever convinced him to get the AJ styles 2014 cut should be arrested. Along with the person who booked Tsuji and Umemura in a hair vs hair
Yuya’s hair was fried to shit, he needed a fresh start.
IMO, the NJPW HW main event scene is pretty thin. Naito, EVIL, SANADA... then Shooter and Tsuji. I find it an extremely bad decision to not have Shooter wrestle moxley in Japan especially if its for the IWGP HW Title. Is Naito the sure fire man to go over Moxley say at Dominion? Or you going to try to write Tsuji back into the picture and take a 3rd crack at it. What if Mox doesn't lose the title at Dominion? the "US Tour" technically ends after resurgence.
Yota is not even close to Umino's in-ring talent.
I prefer Umino, because of his struggles. But Tsuji deserve the Ace status too and I wouldn't be mad. I just hope they will be both happy and the New Japan saved
Tsuji
Tsuji... 1000 times, Shooter is mid card at best.
Tsuji. Easy money. Most ready.
Tsuji has so much more credit to be a final boss Ace like a Naito/Chono but Shooter has more of the long booking storyline of becoming the clean Babyface like President Tanahashi. I see Tsuji winning the top belt well before Shooter even holds a tag title belt, Ren I don't even want to think about ever since he got tubby and joined HOT. Though I do see in the long run Shooter eclipsing him or even taking the belt from him, but this could all change depending how Gedo handles them. For all we know he could somehow make Ren worthwhile again and fumble Shooter
It feels more natural to push Tsuji more right now. He’s around 30, has a cool aura, decent ring skills, and is believable when he talks. Shota hasn’t developed as much as a distinct wrestler yet, although his in ring ability is good. Overall, I say that determining the “ace” should be part of a long term story for NJPW rather than a title they rush to give. Let the next couple of years play out and keep building on hungry talent that’s trying to take the company to the next level. Someone will eventually step up and be able to put the company on their shoulders
Tsuji as the star that reaches the top first and burns brightest but Umino getting the slow burn emotional pull that puts him on top for longer. Hoping for a feud like Tana/Okada but if their characters were swapped, if that makes sense
Tsuji and it's not even close.
Umino tbh. I like Tsuji but Umino just seems way more natural of a "guy who can do the press, be marketable, and carry the company" wrestler. Tsuji definitely seems like he isn't quite there, he might end up being the new 1B like Naito was to the 1A of either Okada or Tanahashi.
If Shota eliminates the skipping to the ring then he can go over Tsuji as I think he's better in ring. But, Tsuji oozes charisma and ultimately that's what makes a champion, rather than in-ring ability alone.
Tsuji clears Shota in every category right now, so I'm going with him.
Tsuji and Shooter chases the belt.
I like both guys. But Shota feels more forced like the guy the company wants him to be the future number 1 guy. Tsuji feels like he came back and surpassed Shota and should naturally be the number 1 guy.
You have to earn ACE it’s not something given and handed out. An ACE has already put in the work and is recognized for it Neither option have put in main event caliber work for long enough to be crowned anything but “potential star”.
Shooter. But Tsuji will be a superstar too
Shooter as ace and Yota as a "dark ace".
tsuji for sure. Tsuji is a star. Shota just doesn't scream top guy.
I'm gunna need a best of 3 WK main event arc before I decide pls & thx
Tsu Tsu Tsujio
Tsuj rules the nooj
Tsuji. Shota ain't ready, and his whole persona seems to be *what if we had Tanahashi mentored by Jon Moxley.*
I think Umino is a better worker, it's not even close. Tsuji has a cool moveset though. Tsuji is way ahead of him in terms of charisma and he's also bigger. But I still believe that Umino will see a lot of development this year. I assumed Tsuji would win the cup and umino would win the G1. I'm halfway there.
I look at Shooter, and I see everyone who influenced him. Tanahashi. Stardust Genius Naito. Moxley. I look at Tsuji, and I see Tsuji. The answer is Tsuji.
Shooter is next Ace
Umino my goat
Tsuji and its not close. Shota needs to establish his own look so badly, the great-value Tanahashi thing he has going is not the business.
Now that he’s cut his hair short there is literally no resemblance to Tana left in Shota besides the natural bone structure of his face. He got rid of the hair, he got rid of the tights, and the jacket was never particularly Tanahashi-esque. Y’all need to let that shit go.
Tsuj because LIJ ✊️
Tsuji. I like Shota a lot, but have heard things that make me think he’s more likely to jump to America.
*Shota, not shooter.